Coimbatore

Is ruling AIADMK faction heading for another split?

Politics has heated up in the ruling faction of AIADMK (Amma) with the arrival of party deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran in Chennai after meeting party general secretary VK Sasikala in Bengaluru jail, after MLAs began trooping at the Adyar residence of Dinakaran to pay their obeisance.

If the tone and tenor of supporters of Dinakaran is any indication, the ruling faction appears headed for a split as they are seeking action against finance minister D Jayakumar. On Tuesday, at least 11 MLAs called on Dinakaran and expressed their support to him and declared that they would abide by any decision taken by him in the interests of the party.

Thanga Tamilselvam, MLA, briefed the media and said Jayakumar had no power to take any action against deputy general secretary and general secretary. “Action will be taken against Jayakumar for speaking out against the leadership,” he said.

According to sources in the Dinakaran camp at least 25 MLAs were firmly with the deputy general secretary and more would support him when the time came.

Nanjil Sampath, another staunch Dinakaran supporter said “some outside force is trying to break AIADMK and that force had targeted OPS as he was a weak link. And he tried to topple the government and failed. Sasikala had strived hard to save the party and the government. She made E Palaniswami as the chief minister and since then, he has successfully completed 100 days in power.

“It was Dinakaran who made Jayakumar what he is today from a nobody,” Sampath said adding that today the same person is conspiring against the person who helped him.

It was Jayakumar who had, when CBI raided Dinakaran and arrested him last month, declared that the party would have nothing to do with Dinakaran or Sasikala and that they would be kept away from party and government.

“It was done to appease the OPS camp, which was demanding the removal of the two leaders from the party as a precondition for merger,” Sampath said adding “Jayakumar had reiterated the same stance on Monday as well. He had told media persons that Dinakaran would be kept away from the government and party.”

But all is not well with the ruling AIADMK (Amma) faction as more MLAs seemed to be veering towards Dinakaran.

The chief minister E Palaniswami is also meeting MLAs individually to ascertain their views on the whole issue. EPS has completed 100 days in power.

But speculation was rife after all the official functions of the chief minister were cancelled on Tuesday evening. The chief minister also called on Speaker P Dhanpal and discussed issues relating to short session to discuss urgent matters, including the GST.

Reacting to the happenings within the AIADMK, the working president of DMK, MK Stalin said that another split in the AIADMK was most likely. He exhorted DMK cadres to be ready for any eventuality as the government appeared shaky in view of the different pulls and pressures it was being subjected to.

Stalin has held the view that Tamil Nadu will see mid-term elections for the state assembly as the present government was unstable and could not complete its five-year term. In the whole process, the people are the losers and governance has taken a hit.